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New lease of life for weight loss surgery husband and wife

David and Debra Brassell, husband and wife from Bishop Auckland,
County Durham, have struggled with weight issues for most of their
lives. After being referred to the Bariatric Service at County
Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, they both decided to
undergo weight loss surgery and have changed their lives for the
better.

Forty seven year old Debra had always been overweight. She
was just nine when she had her first GP appointment to discuss her
weight. Tipping the scales at 20 stone, it was a holiday to the
Dominican Republic in May 2011 which made Debra start thinking
about weight loss surgery.

Debra explains: "While on holiday we got talking to
another holiday maker who had recently had weight loss surgery and
was very pleased with the results. It set me off thinking about my
weight and I decided that I would go on a diet when we got back
home and try and lose weight before going to Florida in the
September. However, I was disappointed to discover that during our
break in Florida I was actually heavier than when we had been away
earlier that year.

"I'd been thinking about weight loss surgery so when we
got home I said to David that I'd been considering looking into
surgery and he actually said he'd been thinking the same
thing."

Husband David, 44, had gained weight gradually over the
years and weighing in at 21 stone decided that he also needed to
discuss the options with his GP.

Debra continues: "Around September last year we both went
to see our GPs and I was referred straight away to the Bariatric
Service while David was advised to try a course of medication
first.

"The first step was to attend an educational seminar. This
was held at Darlington Memorial Hospital and was a chance to meet
the Bariatric Team and receive a lot of information about what was
involved before the surgery, the different kinds of surgery as well
as the risks and benefits.

"You really have to be committed to change, that's one of
the main things the team talked to me about. Before the surgery I
had to lose 5kg and you meet with a dietician to discuss the
lifestyle changes you have to be prepared to make after the surgery
as well.

"David came along to support me at the seminar but we both
felt even more strongly after meeting the team and receiving all
the information that surgery was the best option for both of
us.

"I had a gastric bypass in November last year, in the lead
up to the procedure I was a bag of nerves but Mr Samier, the
consultant and Sheryl, the nurse specialist were extremely
supportive and understanding."

"Since the operation I have lost 7 stone - and feel
fantastic! I have gone from a size 26 to a 14 and I can honestly
say it is the best thing I have ever done. I feel like I have a new
lease of life, I'm more positive about things, I've started doing
exercise which I didn't do before - going to the gym swimming and
circuits.

"It has been hard and you do have to be willing to make
changes but being overweight was really taking a toll on me as a
person, I was often ill and suffered from sleep apnoea. Now, I have
so much energy and just really enjoy life. I believe having the
surgery has prolonged my life. We didn't really have a life before
we were just existing but now it is amazing, everything has changed
and everything is so much easier - it's the simple things like
being able to bend down to tie your shoe laces or being able to
walk without having back pain which you really notice.

"I can't thank the team at Darlington enough - they have
become like family to us. They have been so friendly and supportive
through our whole journey and continue to be now months after the
surgery."

David underwent a gastric sleeve operation in January of
this year and has already lost 8 stone going from a size 44 to 32
in only four months.

Mr Samier said: "It is very pleasing to hear the success
stories of our patients and to see the difference the surgery has
made to the quality of their lives. Debra was the first patient to
undergo surgery at the hospitals so I am delighted to see how well
she has done - talking to patients such as David and Debra and
seeing the change in the lives, it is what makes my job
worthwhile.

"There can be a misconception about weight loss surgery
that it is the easy way out but as David and Debra know, patients
need to work hard to achieve the weight loss results that they want
but it does works and it does provides a long term
solution.

"The educational seminar is a key part of the service.
This is when we meet with patients and provide information about
all the options, the risks and benefits and what commitment is
needed from them. We explain the process step by step and cover the
three different types of surgery we provide - gastric banding,
gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy. All surgeries are done as
key hole procedures so that the recovery time is much
shorter.

"There is a strict criterion for patients to meet, they
need to have a BMI of over 40, or over 35 in the presence of other
medical risks such as high blood pressure. These patients will have
tried everything beforehand and will have failed with conservative
methods and they must be committed to the follow up and to changing
their lifestyle and eating habits after the operation, just as
Debra and David were and we wish them well for the
future."

Mr Samier joined the Trust last September and together
with Mr Andrew Gilliam launched the organisation's first weight
loss surgery service.

The service has been commissioned by The North-East
Specialist Commissioning Group collaboratively across three local
health trusts - County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust,
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and North Tees and
Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust.

Debra and David
before
Debra and David after

Published: 23 May 2012

'Every aspect of my emergency care was dealt with quickly,
efficiently and professionally with full explanations and
compassion from all staff involved'.